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Conciliation Committee

Under the ordinary legislative procedure (codecision), a Conciliation Committee may be set up as provided for in Article 294 (10) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). It can be convened to resolve any disagreements between the Council and the European Parliament following the second reading of a legislative proposal of the European Commission.

The Committee has equal numbers of Council and Parliament representatives. Co-chaired by the Presidents of the Parliament and the Council, it has the task of reaching an agreement on a joint text on the basis of the positions of both institutions at second reading. The European Commission takes part in its proceedings with a view to reconciling the differing positions.

This Committee has to adopt a proposal within 6 weeks following its convening:

by an absolute majority of the Parliament's votes;

by a qualified majority of the Council's votes.

If, within 6 weeks of its being convened, the Conciliation Committee does not approve the joint text, the legislative act is deemed not to have been adopted.

Specific rules exist if a Conciliation Committee is convened for budgetary matters.